|
Cultural resilience has allowed Benin to preserve its traditional
customs and in many parts the ancient practice of Voodoo
is still celebrated.
Burkina Faso
Known until 1983 as Upper Volta, Burkina Faso is famed
for its post-independence history of bloody coups, excellent
beer and its beautiful French style capital, Ougadougou.
Meaning 'Land of the Incorruptable', Burkina Faso is a country
with great national pride. Its highlights include fantastic
markets in the capital and the town of Gorom Gorom,
both bustling Aladdin's caves, and the intriguing Fetes
des Masques - ceremonial dances performed to an orchestra
in the wake of an important local funeral.
Mali
The heart of West Africa's history and culture is Mali. Independent
since 1960, the country was previously under the control of
a French occupation which put an end to the traditional trans
- Saharian trade routes that had brought Mali prosperity.
Post independence has been a turbulent time for Mali, but
after many years of human rights problems and social unrest,
rebel movements are beginning to surrender and the future
promises to be more peaceful. Definitely worth a visit is
Timbuktu for its museums, historic buildings and exceptional
covered market. Away from the towns, adventure seekers can
travel down the River Niger by boat, head into the
desert or go trekking in spectacular Dogon Country.
Climate
In all three countries, temperatures are generally high from
October to February, at their peak from March to May, then
lower from May to September. The climates are dominated more
by rainfall than by temperature and the dry and wet seasons
are important factors to consider when planning your holiday.
Benin
South Benin has two rainy seasons - April to mid July and
mid - September to the end of October. The north has one rainy
season from June to early October. Generally, the south is
cooler than the north and the hottest time of year is from
March to June where temperatures can reach 110°F.
Burkina Faso
The heaviest rainfall occurs between June and October. From
December to February the weather is marginally cooler, with
midday maximums only occasionally exceeding 90°F.
Mali
The rainy season is from June to September. In the far north
of the country, rainfall is rare in comparison to the south
which can receive up to fifteen inches. The hot season lasts
from March to May and the strong winds over the winter period
create violent sand storms which should be avoided.
People
West Africa is home to a large and fascinating number of indigenous
tribes and cultures and it is not uncommon for several of
these to co-exist in any one region. In some countries, the
population may be fairly evenly divided between ethnic groups,
but in others, one may predominate over others.
In Mali, for example, the Dogon people are physically
distinct from the rest of the population and have fought hard
to preserve their ancient cultures, whereas the people of
Benin are collectively tied to the practices of ceremony and
ritual, especially those which celebrate the spirit of Voodoo.
Burkina Faso has some 60 ethnic groups. The largest
of these is the Mossi, who make up about half the population.
One of the highlights of travel in West Africa is meeting
people: Africans are generally very easy going and towards
foreigners and difficult to offend. Avoid public nudity and
confrontation and you won't go wrong.
Language
French is the official language spoken in all three
countries, but many tribal dialects are more commonly spoken
rurally.
Dress
This is one aspect of African culture where it is possible
to cause offence. West Africans place great emphasis on appearance
and generally dress conservatively so it's not surprising
that clothes worn by Western tourists are often considered
offensive. In Africa, the baring of flesh is associated with
labouring or poverty and may well be treated with contempt.
Women should expect to be ridiculed for even minor displays
of nudity and must remember that here breasts are usually
not considered to be offensive, but legs and buttocks are.
Religion
The religions of West Africa fall into three main categories:
Islam, Christianity and traditional beliefs, although there
is much overlap between these. The general pattern of religion
conforms to belief in a supreme being and a host of lesser
gods or spirits. In Benin, for example, a belief in the spirit
of Voodoo has developed independently incorporating
features of other religious practice whereas the population
of Mali is predominantly Muslim. In Burkina Faso, Muslim
influences were resisted and most inhabitants continue to
observe traditional beliefs, based mainly on ancestor and
spirit worship.
Cash
Although it is possible to travel on less money than you would
need for Europe, this region is not considered to be particularly
cheap in comparison with many other parts of the developing
world. The most economic and enjoyable way to shop in all
regions is from the markets where local food and crafts can
be bargained for. The currency in all three countries is the
West African CFA franc (XAF), and you can change your
money into local currency at banks or foreign exchange bureau.
Don't forget to carry some of your money in French francs
as in smaller towns you'll have difficulty changing anything
but these:
Approximate conversion rates are:
$1 US = 750 XAF
£1 Sterling = 1000 XAF
€1 Euro = 650 XAF
For up to date currency information, check the Currency
Converter.
Visas
In all three countries, visas are required for everyone except
citizens of the economic community of West African States
(ECWAS), and in Benin, extendable 15 and 30 day visas are
also available.
Food
An exciting feature of West African travel is the availability
of street food which tends to be served on a stick, wrapped
in paper or in a plastic bag. For something more substantial
than this, West African meals typically consist of a staple
with a sauce. Sauces are made from whatever is available -
for example, in Mali, life is centred around millet which
is harvested in summer but provides the staple diet throughout
the whole year. It is rivalled in usefulness only by the Baobab
tree, the pulp of which is used for a popular sauce known
as gombo. Kojo is the local beer which is also
constituted from millet and will cost you less than a bottle
of drinking water.
Transport
Trains in West Africa are very common but very basic.
Sleeping compartments are basic and there is rarely a dining
car which leaves two options if you want to eat - either bring
your own food or take advantage of one of the many stops that
the train makes and buy your food on the platform. If you
take bush taxis which normally you have to do, the
wait is often longer than the actual journey. Bush taxis are
the most common form of long distance transport in West Africa
but beware as they are uncomfortable and unreliable and expect
to clamber over bodies in order to find some available space.
Mali makes for an adventurous and rugged trip - travel by
air conditioned minibus if you can or take advantage
of the 4x4 touring vehicles in harder desert sections
as long drives and walking can be very hot, especially in
the Dogon villages.
Surprisingly, the best way to get around in West Africa is
often by bike as it enables you to see more of the
scenery. The best time to bike is in the dry winter period
from mid October to the end of February. People in small market
towns are occasionally willing to rent bicycles to travellers
for the day and 20 miles is the average distance you should
aim to travel.
Health
Benin and Mali require all travellers to have a yellow
fever vaccination and malaria is a risk year round
throughout both countries so you should take the appropriate
precautions and remember to only drink water that has been
treated or bottled. The same is true of Burkina Faso, although
here it is also likely that you will be asked for proof of
inoculation against meningitis when arriving at land
borders, especially between Burkina and Mali.
Although the standard of living in West Africa is steadily
improving, the standard of sanitation and the provision of
safe water are still extremely poor so be cautious of the
potential risks and avoid risks. Food and waterborne diseases
are the number one cause of illness in travellers. Travellers
diarrhoea can be caused by viruses, bacteria, or parasites,
which are found throughout the region and can contaminate
food or water. Infections may also cause vomiting or
liver damage so make sure your food and drinking water
are safe.
|
